Spring-actuated winding mechanism, particularly for windows



Nov. H3, i923.. f Hmmm E. J. RAVVLINGS SPRING ACTUATED WINDING MECHANISM, PARTICULARLY FOR WINDOWS Filed Sept. l2, 1922 3 Sheets-Shee'h l Nov.' E3 119233, K

E. J. RAWLJNGS SPRING ACTUATED WINDING MEGHAN'ISM, PARTICULARLY FOR wnmows Filed Sebi. l2 1922 3 Sheets-S1166?. 2

Nov. 113k? H923.

. E. J. RAWLINGS SPRING AGTUATED WINDING MECHANISM, PARTIGULARLY FOR wINDows Filed Sept. l2, 1922 5 SheeJcs-Sheel 5 Vim" Patented Non.. lf3, i923.

unTTan sTaTas PATENT carica.

ERNEST JOHN RAWlLNGS, F BALHAM, LONDON, ENGELAND.

SPRNG-ACTUATED WENDXNG MECHANSM, PRTICULARLY FOR WINDOWS.

Application filed September 12, 1922. Serial No. 587,801.

To all whom. t may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST JOHN RAW- LINGS, subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Balham, London, England, have invented a new and useful improvement in y and RelatingPto Spring-Actuated Winding Mechanism, articularly for Windows, of which the following is a specification.

rihis invention relates to spring actuated winding mechanism, and has particular reterence to window raising mechanism for automobiles or other vehicles. .QMechanism of this kind is known comprising a coil spring enclosed in a hollow roller or barrel on which is wounda cord or cords attached to the window, and means for braking or holding andreleasing the window at will so as to arrest the spring action and tiX the window at any desired height. Diiiiculties however are experienced in arranging within the width of an ordinary door or window a coil spring of suciently regular power the tendency being for the spring to be wound unduly tight when the window is down and insufiiciently powerful to take the weight of the window when it is up. There is also a tendency for the brake mechanism to permit creeping of the window and to interfere unduly with the weightand general design appearance and fittings ofV the window frame or door frame in which the window moves. rThe chief lobject of the present invention is to provide a light, simple and reliable mechanism free vfrom the above mentioned defects.

A feature of the present invention consists inthe employment of 'a coil spring composed of a number of separate and distinct coiled segments connected in series and arranged the one within the other the respective segments being composed of wires of relatively graduated gauge the outermost VSegment being of wire of thickest gauge.

The result of this is that when the barrel is turned in a direction to stiften the entire spring each segment will experience a prof portional partial stiening and will partake in the resultant eect. Such a spring has the coiling capacity of the sum of the segments butv occupies only the space of the largest or outermost, and can be housed in a barrel considerably shorter than the average width of a door or window frame.

in actual practice l ind that three concentric helicall coil segments arranged in series one within the other with clearance between them gives very satisfactory results although of course l mayemploy only two or more than three segments.

.A spring and barrel arrangement as above described in conjunction with a cord or cords attached to the barrel and the window operates to automatically raise the window as is well known, and various devices are also known for holding the'window at any desired height. The means i prefer to employ in accordance with the present invention operate with a strut-like action and l arrange the strut-like member employed for the purpose so that it or they become subjected to compression by spontaneous creeping up or creeping down ot the window or by both movements.

ln order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into edect l will now describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figu're l is a front elevation of a sashless window partly lowered in its frame and provided with my improved raising and braking mechanism.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the spring barrel arrangement on an enlarged scale.

Figures 3 and 4 are cross sectional elevations on the lines 3 3 and 4 -4 respectively of Figure 2.-

Figure 5 is a cross sectional elevation oa modified strut-like arrangement Jfor braking the window.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional elevation oit a strut likeV arrangement acting to brake the window against movement both up and down.

in the drawings the invention is shewn applied to a sashless window such as is usually employed in certain types of automobile doors, but it is to be understood that it ap- Splies equally to windows mounted in sashes and used in other circumstances as toren ample in railwa carriages. u

The glass win ow l glides in channels 2 in the door frame 3 and is provided with a handie or finger piece 4C at its upper edge and with a bracket 5 carrying two small guide pulleys 6 at its lower edge. 7 is the barrel containing the multiple spring and having wound upon' its surface the cord 8 which is secured at its ends to the barrel and passes around the same and under the guide pulleys 6. The particular construction of multiple spring shewn in Figure 2 comprises three concentric helical coil segments 9, 10, 11 the outermost segment being of thick gauge wire the intermediate segment of intermediate gauge wire and the innermost segment of small gauge wire but obviously in practice two such segments or more than three could be used. r1he adjacent ends of the segments are connected together by suitable end caps or ferrules 12 of two diameters corresponding to those of the adjacent coil ends that they connect. The free end of the outermost spring 11 is connected to the barrel and the free end of the innermost spring 9 is connected to the barrel spindle 13 which is held against rotation by a ratchet arrangement hereinafter described. The initial `tension of the spring may be regulated by turning the spindle 13 by a nut or squared portion 14: on it. The fixing of the ends of the coil segments to the end caps 12 is Conveniently effected by forming coarse threadson the caps so that the end convolutionsof the coil segments engage therewith like a nut on a screwthreaded bolt.

A multiple coil spring and barrel arrangement as above described presents so large a winding or coiling capacity that it affords a substantially constant or even force throughout the raising and lowering movements of the window so that no fusee or equivalent leverage varying device is necessary although. such a device may be employed if desired. Moreover it can be of so inconspicuous a diameter and of such short length that it can be mounted in a cut-away or recessed portion of the cross or garnish rail 13 as shewn in Figure 1 without interfering with the normal structure or occupying abnormal space or preventing the usual lock or other arrangements near or on the rail from being fitted. The entire spring and barrel arrangement may be so moderate in size and so light in weight that it does not add materially to the bulk or weight of the door or frame in which it is fitted. One distinct advantage when fusees are dispensed with is that the cord winds directly on the barrel so that the exact position of the convolutions on the barrel is immaterial as well as the exact point of attachment ofthe cord to the window and moreover the entire barrel can be arranged within only a very small distance away from the face ofthe window. An increased leverage effect equivalent to using a fusee but retaining the before inentioned advantage can be obtained by using a cylindrical sleeve 14 slightly coned at its ends and mounted on the barrel as shewn in F igure 2, or the barrel itself can be tapered or otherwise shaped.

For the purpose of exertin a pressure or braking effect upon the win ow to' prevent rattling and spontaneous creeping of the window upwardsor downwards any suitable pressure applyingmeans. may be employed.

referably, however, 1 employ means hav,V 'Zing a strut-like effect as shewn in Figures 3 y and 4 or Figures 5 or 6. rlthese constructions comprise rockable arms 15 acting like short struts. They are located at each end of the barrel and are constituted by the upturned ends of a horizontal bar 16. The en tire bar 16 with its up-turned ends or arms 15 is mounted to rock about the axis. of the barrel spindle thereby enabling the padded tips 17 ol the arms 15 to come into contact with the face of the window or move away therefrom by the rocking of the bar 16. The angle at which the arms 15 are set is such that the said armsV act as short inclined struts so that the greater the tendency of the window to move the greater becomes the resisting pressure of the'tips 17 of the arms upon the window. In Figures 3 and l this strut-like action occurs to prevent a downward creeping of the window and in Figure 5 it occurs to prevent an upward creeping 4of the window. 1n most cases the degree of pressure applied to the window by the tips 17 is quite sufiicient toA prevent rattling and accidental upward or downward movement of the window the strut-like action only being brought into play under exceptional circumstances or in- Windows having an abnormal tendency to spontaneously rise or fall but to ensure against any abnormal tendency in either direction tue double strut arrangement shewn in Figure 6 may be employed. lnthis construction it is seen that a second arm 18 is pivoted at 19 to the brackets or framework 19x by which the entire barrel arrangement is held in position. 18 is normally thrust against th'e window by a spring-.20 and the arm 15 is provided with a stop or lug 21 adapted to makecontact with the arm 18 and press it away from the window when said arm 15 is rocked counterclockwise. Consequently the arms 15l and 1 8 either vpress upon the window together or move away therefrom together.

For the purpose of rocking the horizontal bar 16 with its arms 15 any convenient means such as a turn button or press button may be employed. The means I have shown for this/purpose comprise a turn button or knob 22 having a quick thread working in a screw-threaded.hole in a lug or boss 23 on the underside of the har 16. 1t is evident that the turning of the knob toiand fro rocks the bar 16 and thereby causes the application-or release of pressure on the window.

The holding of the barrel against rotation when the springs are being wound up to their normal tension by turning the spindle 13 at its squared portion 14 comprises a ratchet wheel 24 on the other end of the said spindle and a paw1'25 pivoted on the adjacent arm 15. 1t is to be noted that owing to This arm amarres i the tendency of the barrel to. rotate and carry the spindle and ratchet Wheel With it there is a pressure constantly transmitted through the paivl to the arms 15 urging their padded ends towards the Window. As already described, the pressure on the Window is regulated when required by operating the knob 22. Obviously however such spring applied pressure although advantageous and veryslmply obtained 1s not essential to the operation ot the arms 15. 'llhe arms 15 may have separate springs or no spring whatever and in the latter case the pawl 25 may be mounted on the fixed bracket or tramevvork lirc as sheWn in Figure 5.

of any convenient material and shape, being preferably' curved slightly on their face as shewn.

What l claim is 1. ln Winding mechanism of the spring barrel type, a helical spring composed of a plurality ot' segments coneentricallyv arranged in'series the one Within the other and of different gauge Wire, the innermost segment being of smallest gauge Wire and the outer segment or segments being ofvvire of greater or successively greater gauge.

2. ln Winding mechanism of the spring barrel type, a helical spring composed of three segments concentrically. arranged the one Within the other and of different gauge wire, the outermost segment being of thickest gauge Wire, the Jintermediate segment of intermediate gauge wire, and the innermost segment of thinnest gaugel wire,

' and means connecting adjacent ends 0f the springs in Series. A

3. lPn Window raising mechanism of the spring barrel type, the combination with the barrel and the barrel spindle, lof a helical` spring structure operatively connected to said barrel and spindle, said spring structure comprising a plurality of separate concentrically arranged helical wire spring segments so diterin from one another in wire gauge that eacgh segment experiences a proportional partial stiening in the resultant effect of any lspring-stiffening movement as between the barrel and the spindle.

4. ln Winding mechanism of the spring barrel type, the combination with the barrel and harz-el spindle, ot' a helical spring structure operatively connected to said bai-rch and spindle, said spring structure comprising a plurality of separate helically coiled spring segments arranged concentrically one within the other and com-` posed of wires of different gauge, the outermost being of thickest gauge Wire, and connecting means intermediate said segments to serially connect them.

5. ln winding mechanism of the spring The padded tips 17 of the arms 15 may be barrel type, the combination With the barrel and barrel spindle, of a helical spring structure operatively connected to said barrel and spindle, said spring structure comprising a pluralit of concentrically arranged separate ihehcally' coiled sprin segments occupying a space which in vvidt is substantially that of onl one segment and composed of Wires of dyiterent gauge, the outermost being of thickest gauge Wire, and connecting means intermediate said Segments to serially connect them.

6. ln Window raisin mechanism ot the spring barrel type, a elical spring composed of a plurality ot separate helical spring segments arranged concentrically to occupy only the space ot the outermost segment and composed of Wire ot diiiferent gauge, `the outermost segment being ot. thickest gauge and the inner segments of .successively thinner gauge, and means connectingj the adjacent ends of the segments in series, the outer end of the outermost segment being connected to the barrel and the further end of the innermost segment being connected to the barrel spindle.

7. ln Window raising mechanism of the spring barrel type the combination with the barrel and barrel spindle, ot a helical spring composed of a plurality ot helical spring segments arranged concentrically the one Within the other in the space occupied only by the outermost segment and composed of Wires of different gauge the outermost being et thickest gauge an the inner of successively thinner gauge, and screw threaded double-diametered terrules rotatable on the barrel spindle and connected to adjacent ends of the spring segments by screw-threading engagement with their convolutions to serially connect them.

8. [t spring actuated window comprising a barrel, a barrel spindle, a helical sprim1f operatively connecting the barrel an spindle, said spring comprising a plurality of serially connected concentric helical spring segments differing in gauge and arranged to occupy the space only of the outermost segment which is o'f thickest gauge, a cord connecting the Window proper With the barrel, and a tapering sleeve secured on the exterior of said barrel ER EST JOHN RAWLllNGS. 

